Fans from Cameron and Midwestern State huddled around the middle court on a cold, dreary day in blankets, scarves and hats while watching an intense battle for a regional championship.
With all eyes from both fan bases on him for more than an hour, freshman Julen Gutierrez didn't crack under pressure.
Instead, Gutierrez clawed back in a winner-take-all singles match to defeat Midwestern State's Dillon Pineda in three sets (6-3, 6-7, 7-5) to lift the Cameron men's tennis team over fellow Lone Star Conference foe Midwestern State with a 5-4 win.
The nail-biting victory marked the Aggies' fifth straight South Central Region title and yet another trip to the DIvision II Nationals.
"It's what these guys started off the year hoping for," Cameron coach Josh Cobble said after his team posed for pictures at McMahon Foundation Tennis Courts on campus.
"I'm just glad to be part of it with them. The success this program has built is huge."
Thanks to a watchful eye and a solid serve, Gutierrez jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the third and final set before surrendering three straight points.
With his back against the wall trailing 5-4, Gutierrez didn't give in.
Instead, he reclaimed momentum for three straight points his way for a 7-5 win as his teammates began the team dog pile on top of him.
"He (Pineda) was a bit slow cramping so I knew I just had to put the ball inside the lines and make him work for it," Gutierrez said. "My teammates told me to just focus on the ball.
I was locked in and wasn't focused on the crowd or what people were saying. That way I could manage my pressure."
Managing pressure was an understatement given all that was at stake, and that didn't surprise Cobble.
"Julen stepped up big time today — from behind in both the doubles and the singles," Cobble said. "Knowing the team needed to win, he stepped up and got it done."
Indeed, Gutierrez was clutch in doubles play as well. Gutierrez teamed up with Vinicius Santos to win the third doubles set 9-7.
Cameron claimed two of the three doubles points to take an early 2-1 lead. Felipe Oyarzun and Mateo Velasco won their doubles match, 8-3.
Gutierrez and Santos was the final doubles tandem to finish, just as Gutierrez was in the singles. On match point in doubles, Gutierrez sprinted up to the net and spiked the ball so hard it bounced up and over the fence for the final point.
"It's better to put it in the parking lot than back into their hands," Gutierrez laughed. "I just wanted to finish the match and get onto singles."
In singles, Santos led the way with a 7-6, 6-4 win in straight sets at the No. 1 singles slot. His victory over the Mustangs' Ramon Toyos featured the top-two ranked players in the region.
"Vinny (Santos) really played well today. This guy is an unbelievable player," Cobble said. "He's been one of the top guys in the conference and the region the last four years. He had another good day today and really spurred the energy needed for the team to win the match."
Santos was frustrated early after surrendering three straight points. He then slammed his racket down at one point before his coach gathered him and helped Santos regain his composure. Santos rallied to win 7-6 and then cruise in the second set.
"I lost my focus, but that conversation with coach (Cobble) helped me refocus. It was all thanks to him," Santos said. "This is everything we expected. We've worked very hard for this. I'm very proud of the team."
In addition to Gutierrez and Santos, one other Aggie picked up wins in singles. Oyarzun, a senior who is now making his fourth trip to naionals, won in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
"Today I got my four-for-four going to nationals. It's definitely mixed emotions," Oyarzun said. "Carrying this team wasn't always easy. Even if I wasn't playing the best, I had to keep a positive attitude to give my teammates that extra push for us all to play at the top of our game."
Oyarzun and his Cameron teammates did just that as they watched and cheered on Gutierrez on the side court.
The journey to another regional championship wasn't easy, but Saturday's gutsy performance exemplified what the Aggies have been all about this season.
"These guys have been great. The year started out rough, but they worked through it," Cobble said. "Today kind of showed what we've done all year — the good and the bad. But no matter what, they battled through it and stayed the course. They knew they had the ability to do it."
Cameron will be one of 16 Division II teams competing for a national championship in Florida from May 10 through May 13.